West Yellowstone

 

It had been a full day packed with sightseeing, and by the end, we were feeling a little worn out. We checked into the Gray Wolf Inn, our home base for the next few days, before strolling down the main street to explore West Yellowstone.

West Yellowstone sits just outside the park’s west entrance and offers far more amenities than the more remote Canyon Village in the park’s interior. The town boasts a wide range of restaurants, numerous souvenir stores, adventure tour kiosks, and fishing outfitters, as well as several quality clothing shops catering to tourists. The souvenir stoes offer everything from fridge magnets and keychains to pocket-knives and quirky coffee mugs.

Harry found an ice cream cone that was bigger than the one from Pike Place, Seattle. Not nearly as tastey though. Very bland and a bit plasticy.

I met one of the locals who wasn't very talkative. He was a bit of a stiff to be honest.

We also spotted some fantastic T-shirts sporting funny Yellowstone slogans and some that were just quality shits and jumpers. I treated myself to a high-quality, super-warm hoodie that I’m sure will remain a favourite for years to come.

cattered throughout the open spaces of the town is a herd of 36 painted bison statues, each one decorated with a unique landscape or scene. Harry has an important public safety message about the bison in the park.

After dinner, we headed back to the hotel, where guests are treated to a complimentary bag of goodies for making s’mores. Just steps from the entrance, a cozy fire pit waits—perfect for roasting marshmallows to golden perfection before indulging in the gooey, sweet delight.

For those who aren’t familiar, s’mores are a classic North American campfire treat made by sandwiching a large, toasted marshmallow and a piece of chocolate between two crisp graham crackers. The heat melts the chocolate and softens the marshmallow, creating a sweet, gooey indulgence.

Artist's Paint Pots

 

Artist’s Paint Pots offers an eclectic array of geothermal features, including vibrant hot pools, bubbling mud pots, and small geysers. Thanks to the high concentration of iron oxide in the soil, shades of red dominate the landscape, creating a striking visual contrast.

During our visit, we also had a close encounter with a squirrel and a chipmunk—both surprisingly unfazed by our presence.

The standout attraction in this colorful area is Blood Geyser. True to its name, it bubbles persistently and occasionally erupts, sending bursts of water up to 1.8 meters into the air (sadly not while were were there).

At the upper end of the Paint Pots area lies the Mud Pots—a fascinating display of geothermal activity where thick, grey mud continuously bubbles and churns. Smaller bubbles percolate constantly, while occasional larger bursts erupt, briefly disturbing the surface.

Gibbon Falls

Our final stop of the day was at Gibbon Falls, where the Gibbon River plunges dramatically over the edge of the ancient Yellowstone Caldera. At 26 meters high, Gibbon Falls may not rival the drama of Tower Fall or the mighty falls in the Canyon, yet it still captivates visitors. As the water fans out over the rocks it creates a mesmerizing, almost hypnotic effect that’s hard to look away from.